Valve-operating mechanism



'July 18, 1939.. M. P. LAURENT 2,166,304

VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l Milfon p.Laurenf July 18, 1939. R ENT 2,166,304

VALVE-OPERATING MECHANI S M Filed Oct. 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- Z]woe/wi d MiHon' .1 Lafirem" Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTorrl Milton areas VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM W. K. M. Co Tex P. Laurent.Houston, Tex, assignmto mpany, Incorporated, Houston, a corporation ofTexas Application October 20, 1936, Serial No. 106,543

This invention relates to new and 3 Claims.

useful improvements in valve operating mechanism.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved valve operatingmechanism making for rapid opening and closing A particular object ofthe valve.

of the invention is to provide a valve operating mechanism of the quick.opening and closing improved means for positi in either position.

Another object of elastic means co-acting type, wherein is .providedvely holding the valve the invention is to provide with the operatingmechanism for bringing about a more effective locking in open and closedpositions.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with aquick operating valve, of

the rising stem ty means for guiding and balmade highly eflicient and Aconstruction designed more rapid.

to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together withother features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the which an example ofwherein: I

Figure 1 is a vertical accompanying drawings, in the invention is shown,and

sectional view of a valve operating mechanism constructed in accordancewith the invention,

the gate being open;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective of the valve shown in Figure 1, with itsoperating mechanism in an intermediate position;

Figure 6 is a side elevation tion of the valve showing nism in closedposition in position in dotted lines;

the operating mechafull lines and in open Figure 7 is a detail of thelever and stem elements, and

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-4 of Figurelected for the purposes 0 f illustration, a valve of the wedge-blockgate and rising stem type,

similar to that shown in issue No. 20,101.

my Letters Patent Re- The valve bodyhas the usual alined flow ports IIin its opposite walls I2 and on each side of its grease chamber I3.above said ports, and to For a short distance r a considerable disof theupper porthe ports. Vertical by-passes 'a flange 3 I.

tance below them, opposite, approximately parallel guide faces I4 areformed on the opposite side walls of said chamber. Each port issurrounded by an annular' recess I5 receiving a collar I6 having itsouter flat side substantially flush with the adjacent face I4 andgrooved to receive a spring-pressed sealing ring II.

A gate block I8 having an opening I9 in its lower portion is mounted toslide vertically between the guide faces II, in contact with the sealingrings I'I, whereby the fluid flowing through the ports II and theopening I9 is excluded from the chamber I 3. The gate includes Anactuating stem 2|] rises from the block A, while a pilot or guide block;

vertical movement to spread the blocks and seal 2i.v along each vertical end of the gate (Figure 4) connect the permit grease or lubricant,packed in said chamber to pass around the gate when it is raised andlowered.

A bonnet 24 is screwed into the III and is provided with a stufling box25 through which the stem 20 passes. A guide bushing 26 is screwed intothe under around the stem 20, and at the top of the chamber I 3. Thisbushing has a depending flange 21, which is engaged by the upper end ofthe block B, whereby the latter is displaced when the gate is raised toopen the valve. be screwed into, or otherwise fastened to the block A.

A plug 28 similar to the bonnet 24 is screwed into the bottom of thevalve body Ill and has a stuffing box 29 and a bushing 30 provided withThe block 13 engages the flange upon the downward movement of the gateto wedge the blocks between the faces I4. stem 2! slides through theplug, bushing and be seen that the stems 20 and 2| are of substantiallythe same diameter and the top and bottom of the gate I8, exposedsubstantially equal areas, therefore, pressures in the chamber I3 aboveand below the gate will be top of the body equalized and the gatebalanced. By this ar- I rangement substantially no resistance is ofieredto a quick sliding of the valve.

For raising and lowering the stem 20, I provide an operating mechanismincluding a pair of swinging arms or supports 32 having their lower endspivoted on trunnions 33, extending from bosses 34, on diametricallyopposite sides of the upper portion of the valve body III, as is bestshown in Figures 5 and 6. The arms are retained by cotter keys 35. Eacharm has a projection or side of the bonnet, o

The stem 20 may 1 upper and lower portions of the chamber I3 and ear 8!located between an upper notch or recess l1 and a lower notch 88, at itsupper end. The cars have pivoted therein trunnions 8. extending from thelower corners (Figure 5) of a yoke ll of a lever ll. 'Ihe ears areretained on the trunnions by cotter keys 4!.

A cross head 43 has reduced cylindrical studs 44 at its ends pivotedinthe upper corners of the yoke. above the trunnions ll, Figures 1, 5, 6and I. When the yoke is swung on its pivots 8|, the studs may be engagedin either of the notches 81 or 80, of the arms 82. The stem II has areduced pin ll at its upper end, (Figure 8) which passesthrough anaperture 40 in the center of the cross head. Elastic cushion rings 41,such as rubber, are confined on the pin above and below the head ll andmay be mounted between metallic washers 48. The head is preferablyflattened to provide seats for the washers. The parts are held on thepin ll by a nut 40. The cushion rings provide such elasticity as topermit the yoke II to continue to swing after the gate it has reachedthe end of its travel, thereby allowing the studs u to seat in thenotches u and a on the center line or axis of the stem, whereby the gateis locked in its open and closed positions. At the upper end of the stemll and surrounding the reduced pin 4 is a horizontally extending lug '0having an upstanding portion I on its ou er end. The lug is preferablywelded or secured to the stem II, in order that it will not turn thereonand will prevent the cross head 48 rotating on the pin ll.

In operation, assuming the valve to be in the position shown in Figurel, which is the open position, the lever ll is swung from the positionshown by the dotted lines in Figure 6 over to the position shown by thefull lines in Figure 6,

which moves the valve to its closed podtion. In

moving the valve; say from its open position to its closed position, theiirst partial movement ofthelever ll willswingthestuds 44 onto!engagement with the recess 31 of the arms I2. Due to the elastic rings41 between the metal washers 48 on the pin ll, when the studs are swungout of the upper recess 31 the pressur'e is released on the upper ringA1 and this, combined with the moving of the tr'unnions I! pass thecenter line of the valve body, constitutes the unlocking oi the valvefrom its open position.

'Ihe continued swinging of the lever ll from right toieft inFlgure6willlower the gate lluntilthe lever ll and yoke ll are swung' towithin a short distance of the position shown in fulllines in Figure 6.Until the lever reaches this point, both of the rings 41 are compressedequally and when the lever reaches the hi1 line position shown in Figure6, it will be seen that the lower elasticringlliscomprwsedandtheupperringis expanded and is allowed to resume itsnatural shape just the reverse of the showing in Figure 8 for the openposition of the valve. In this position the trunnion 30 is again swungpast the center line of the valve and the studs 44 (Figure Attention iscalled to the fact that although the valve has been shown and describedas having a pilot stem Ii on the lower end of the gate II, this stem isnot always' essential, because in some instances this'stem will not berequired. This is particularly true of valves used forhandling lowpressure fluid. In certaininstallations, such as the handling of lowpressure fluid,- the desire to secure by Letters .reciprocative in thecasing, said stem projected outside the casing and limited in stroke, acrosshead mounted on said stem to move longitudinally thereof, opposedelastic members on the stem on opposite sides of the cross-head andnormally equalised to support the cross-head neutrally therebetween, andtoggle means connected to the casing and said cross-head for moving thestem in either longitudinal direction whereby said elastic members arealternately compressed to hold the stem in either of its operatedpositions and the toggle means releasably locked in its operatedcondition.

2. The combination of a casing and'a reciprm catory valve stem havinglimited stroke in each direction, and means for actuating and holdingsaid stem in operated position in either direction, said means includinga cross-head mounted on said stem to move longitudinally thereof,elastic members sleeved on said stem on oppo-, site sides of saidcross-head, said elastic members being normally of equalized eifect tosupport the cross-head neutrally therebetween and alternatelyindividually compressible by movement of the cross-head thereagainstafter the stem is arrested in its longitudinal movement in eitherdirection, said cross-head having studs at its ends, an operating leverhaving a yoke extension pivoted on the studs of said cross-head and thestuds projecting beyond the sides of the yoke, and a pair of supportinglinks pivoted at one end on the casing on opposite sides of the stem,the

pivotal axes of said links and the axes of said A studs of thecross-head being in a plane parallel with that of the axisof the stem.said links being pivotally attached near their opposite ends to the yokeextension of said operating lever and having marginal recesses onopposite sides of the pivotal attachment to the yoke so as to receivethe projected studs of the cross-headand thereby place the pivotal axesof the links and yoke extension beyond dead center whereby to releasablylock the stem actuating means in operated position and hold the stem atits stroke limit by the reaction of the elastic member on the stem ascompressed by the mas-head moved thereagainst. 4

3. The herein described operating and holding means for reciprocatoryvalve stems having limited travel in each direction, includingcooperating toggle elements pivotally attached to the valve casing andhaving a longitudinally movable pivotal attachment to the'stem withinterposed elastic members resisting the longitudinal movement in eitherdirection. said toggle elements be.- ing stopped in operated conditionbeyond dead center after each operation of the stem and the elastic.members being alternately compressed according to direction of travelafter arrest of the stem movement, whereby the toggle elements arereleasably locked in operated condition and the stem held at the end ofits stroke.

' mL'roN P. LAURENT.

